Video quality optimization based on display capabilities

ABSTRACT

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing media content streaming/downloading and playback, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing video quality optimization based on display capabilities. In various embodiments, a computing system might receive user input from a user indicating a user request for media content. The computing system might autonomously determine characteristics or attributes of a playback device (i.e., a display device and/or audio playback device, etc.). The computing system might send, to a media content source over a network, a request for the media content, the request comprising information regarding presentation characteristics that are based at least in part on the determined characteristics of the playback device. The computing system might receive a version of the media content having the one or more presentation characteristics, and might relay the received version of the media content to the playback device for presentation to the user.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/477,356 (the “'356 Application”), filed Apr. 3, 2017 by Michael D.Sprenger et al., entitled, “Video Quality Optimization Based on DisplayCapabilities,” which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/395,507 (the “'507 Application”), filed Sep. 16, 2016 by Michael D.Sprenger et al., entitled, “Video Quality Optimization Based on DisplayCapabilities,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety for all purposes.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates, in general, to methods, systems, andapparatuses for implementing media content streaming or downloading andmedia content playback, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, andapparatuses for implementing video quality optimization based on displaycapabilities.

BACKGROUND

Conventional set-top boxes (“STBs”) or media players are unable todetermine the display capabilities of display devices connectedtherewith. Although emerging streaming video systems or the like nowallow consumers or users to select specific content with attributes suchas 4K or high dynamic range (“HDR”) or the like, some consumers or usersmay not be aware of the specific capabilities of their TV(s) and/or maynot know how to request content in a format that takes full advantage oftheir TVs capabilities. Alternatively, or additionally, some consumersor users may request a format that cannot be displayed by their TV (andwould get down-sampled or down-decimated), thus unnecessarily usingbandwidth in the operator's or service provider's network. For example,consumers or users might select 4K content with HDR, but the user'sdisplay devices (e.g., TV) might only be a high definition (“HD”) TVthat is not capable of displaying content in 4K with HDR. In suchinstances, the STB or media player through which the user makes theselection, or the HDTV itself, might receive the 4K content and mightdown-sample the 4K content into HD content that can be displayed. Thisprocess, however, results in excessive bandwidth usage (i.e.,downloading of 4K content that will not actually be viewed in the formas downloaded, the 4K content being generally larger in data size).

Hence, there is a need for more robust and scalable solutions forimplementing media content streaming or downloading and media contentplayback, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatusesfor implementing video quality optimization based on displaycapabilities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particularembodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions ofthe specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals areused to refer to similar components. In some instances, a sub-label isassociated with a reference numeral to denote one of multiple similarcomponents. When reference is made to a reference numeral withoutspecification to an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to allsuch multiple similar components.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for implementingvideo quality optimization based on display capabilities, in accordancewith various embodiments.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating various embodimentsof a system that may be used for implementing video quality optimizationbased on display capabilities.

FIGS. 3A-3D are flow diagrams illustrating a method for implementingvideo quality optimization based on display capabilities, in accordancewith various embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4C are flow diagrams illustrating another method forimplementing video quality optimization based on display capabilities,in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer or systemhardware architecture, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a networked system of computers,computing systems, or system hardware architecture, which can be used inaccordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Overview

Various embodiments provide tools and techniques for implementing mediacontent streaming or downloading and media content playback, and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementingvideo quality optimization based on display capabilities.

Merely by way of example, the embodiments described herein are directedto video quality optimization based on display capabilities, however,the various embodiments are not limited to video services, and cansimilarly apply to audio quality optimization based on audiocapabilities, game play quality optimization based on display and audiocapabilities, image quality optimization based on display capabilities,and/or the like.

In various embodiments, a computing system (which might be a set-top box(“STB”), a media player, or some other similar device) might receive afirst user input from a user indicating a user request for a first mediacontent. The computing system might autonomously determine one or morefirst characteristics of a first playback device (i.e., at least one ofone or more display devices or one or more audio playback devices, orthe like). The computing system might subsequently send, to a mediacontent source over a network, a first request for the first mediacontent, the first request comprising information regarding one or morefirst presentation characteristics that are based at least in part onthe determined one or more first characteristics of the first playbackdevice. The computing system might receive a first version of the firstmedia content, the first version of the first media content having theone or more first presentation characteristics, and might relay thereceived first version of the first media content to the first playbackdevice for presentation to the user of the first version of the firstmedia content.

Merely by way of example, according to some embodiments, the one or morefirst characteristics might comprise at least one of video resolution,dynamic range, frame rate, or color gamut, and/or the like. In somecases, the video resolution might comprise one of 8Kultra-high-definition (“UHD”), 4K UHD, 1080p full high-definition(“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720p HD, 576p enhanced-definition (“ED”), 480pED, 576i standard-definition (“SD”), or 480i SD, and/or the like. Thedynamic range might comprise one of high-dynamic-range (“HDR”), orstandard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), and/or the like. The frame rate mightcomprise at least one of standard frame rate (“SFR”) or high frame rate(“HFR”), and/or the like. The color gamut might comprise one of standardcolor gamut (“SCG”) or wide color gamut (“WCG”), and/or the like. Inthis context, the term “standard color gamut or SCG” might refer tocolor spaces used for standard definition television (“SDTV”) or highdefinition TV (“HDTV”) formats, including ITU-R Recommendation BT.601(or Rec.601), ITU-R Recommendation BT.709 (or Rec.709), and/or the like.The term “wide color gamut or WCG” might refer to color spaces exceedingthe color gamut BT.601 and BT.709, such as ITU-R Recommendation BT.2020(or Rec. 2020), DCI-P3, and/or any other color space that may bestandardized in the future.

Network operators, Internet service providers (“ISPs”), and providers ofstreaming video services need to balance bandwidth usage in theirnetworks and carefully weigh product offerings, bandwidth demand, andcontent variety. Transporting video signals to a media player or STB ofan individual subscriber or user whose display device is not capable ofdisplaying certain aspects such as 4K resolution, High Dynamic Range(“HDR”), High Frame Rate (“HFR”), Wide Color Gamut (“WCG”), and/or thelike unnecessarily utilizes bandwidth in the operator's or serviceprovider's network. To optimize network capacity usage and maximizebandwidth utilization, it is desirable to only feed content to asubscriber at a quality level (resolution, HDR/HFR/WCG) that the enddisplay device is able to handle and to display to the consumer.

The various embodiments comprise a STB, media player, or similar kind ofreplay mechanism that is able to obtain information about thecapabilities of the attached TV or other display and—if needed—cache itlocally in non-volatile memory. Such information includes, but is notlimited to, resolution, dynamic range capability, frame rate capability,color space representation, and/or the like. The system is able toautomatically select content in a format whose quality best matches thecapabilities of the attached display (in terms of resolution, dynamicrange, frame rate, color reproduction, and/or the like). This has theadded benefit that the media content having the particular attributes orcharacteristics displayable by the display device(s) (rather than mediacontent having attributes or characteristics beyond the capabilities ofthe display device(s)) is downloaded, thereby avoiding unnecessary orexcess bandwidth usage (i.e., avoiding downloading of content of toohigh a quality, which is larger in data size, that will have to bedown-sampled or down-decimated anyway in order to be displayed on thedisplay device(s)).

For example, if the user's display device has 4K resolution, the STB ormedia player will request a 4K version of the selected content from theoperator's or service provider's playout source or from the mediacontent source(s). If the user's TV has HD resolution, then streaming 4Kcontent does not make sense, as it would get down-sampled in the STB,media player, or the TV. This approach significantly reduces bandwidthusage in the operator's or service provider's network and guaranteesthat the user always receives a highest quality video feed, most closelymatching the display's capabilities.

The following detailed description illustrates a few exemplaryembodiments in further detail to enable one of skill in the art topractice such embodiments. The described examples are provided forillustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the described embodiments. It will be apparent to oneskilled in the art, however, that other embodiments of the presentinvention may be practiced without some of these specific details. Inother instances, certain structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form. Several embodiments are described herein, and whilevarious features are ascribed to different embodiments, it should beappreciated that the features described with respect to one embodimentmay be incorporated with other embodiments as well. By the same token,however, no single feature or features of any described embodimentshould be considered essential to every embodiment of the invention, asother embodiments of the invention may omit such features.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers used herein to expressquantities, dimensions, and so forth used should be understood as beingmodified in all instances by the term “about.” In this application, theuse of the singular includes the plural unless specifically statedotherwise, and use of the terms “and” and “or” means “and/or” unlessotherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term “including,” as wellas other forms, such as “includes” and “included,” should be considerednon-exclusive. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompassboth elements and components comprising one unit and elements andcomponents that comprise more than one unit, unless specifically statedotherwise.

Various embodiments described herein, while embodying (in some cases)software products, computer-performed methods, and/or computer systems,represent tangible, concrete improvements to existing technologicalareas, including, without limitation, media content streaming ordownloading technology, media content optimization technology, networkutilization technology, network optimization technology, and/or thelike. In other aspects, certain embodiments, can improve the functioningof user equipment or systems themselves (e.g., media players, set-topboxes (“STBs”), media content streaming or downloading systems, etc.),for example, by autonomously determining one or more characteristics orattributes of a playback device (e.g., resolution, frame rate, dynamicrange, and/or color gamut, or the like for a display device, and/or thelike), sending a request for user selected media content that haspresentation characteristic that are based on or consistent with thedetermined one or more characteristics or attributes of the playbackdevice, and/or the like. In particular, to the extent any abstractconcepts are present in the various embodiments, those concepts can beimplemented as described herein by devices, software, systems, andmethods that involve specific novel functionality (e.g., steps oroperations), such as autonomously determining one or morecharacteristics or attributes of a playback device (e.g., resolution,frame rate, dynamic range, and/or color gamut, or the like for a displaydevice, and/or the like), sending a request for user selected mediacontent that has presentation characteristic that are based on orconsistent with the determined one or more characteristics or attributesof the playback device, and/or the like, which optimizes presentation ofthe media content consistent with the capabilities of the user'splayback device(s) while not needlessly wasting network bandwidth,and/or the like, to name a few examples, that extend beyond mereconventional computer processing operations. These functionalities canproduce tangible results outside of the implementing computer system,including, merely by way of example, optimized presentation of mediacontent to the user consistent with the capabilities of the user'splayback device(s), avoidance of network bandwidth usage (i.e., byavoiding downloading of media content having attributes that are beyondthe capabilities of the user's playback device(s), etc.), and/or thelike, at least some of which may be observed or measured by customersand/or service providers.

In an aspect, a method might comprise receiving, with a computingsystem, a first user input from a user indicating a user request for afirst media content; autonomously determining, with the computingsystem, one or more first characteristics of a plurality ofcharacteristics of a first playback device; and sending, with thecomputing system and to a media content source over a network, a firstrequest for the first media content, the first request comprisinginformation regarding one or more first presentation characteristicsthat are based at least in part on the determined one or more firstcharacteristics of the first playback device. The method might furthercomprise receiving, with the computing system, a first version of thefirst media content, the first version of the first media content havingthe one or more first presentation characteristics; and relaying, withthe computing system, the received first version of the first mediacontent to the first playback device for presentation to the user of thefirst version of the first media content.

In some embodiments, the computing system might comprise a media devicethat is communicatively coupled to the first playback device. In somecases, the media device might comprise one of a set-top box (“STB”), amedia player, a gaming console, a server computer, a desktop computer,or a laptop computer, and/or the like. The media player, in someinstances, might comprise one of a digital versatile disc or digitalvideo disc (“DVD”) player, a Blu-ray disc (“BD”) player, a streamingvideo player, a streaming music player, or a streaming game player,and/or the like. The first playback device might comprise at least oneof one or more monitors, one or more television sets, or one or morespeakers, and/or the like. Alternatively, the computing system and thefirst playback device might be integrated within a single device, thesingle device comprising one of a tablet computer, a laptop computer, asmart phone, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a portablegaming device, a smart watch, a virtual reality (“VR”) device, anaugmented reality (“AR”) device, or a portable music player, and/or thelike.

According to some embodiments, the one or more first characteristicsmight comprise at least one of video resolution, dynamic range, framerate, or color gamut, and/or the like. In some instances, the videoresolution might comprise one of 8K ultra-high-definition (“UHD”), 4KUHD, 1080p full high-definition (“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720p HD, 576penhanced-definition (“ED”), 480p ED, 576i standard-definition (“SD”), or480i SD, and/or the like. The dynamic range might comprise one ofhigh-dynamic-range (“HDR”), or standard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), and/orthe like. The frame rate might comprise at least one of standard framerate (“SFR”) or high frame rate (“HFR”), and/or the like. The colorgamut might comprise one of standard color gamut (“SCG”) or wide colorgamut (“WCG”), and/or the like.

Merely by way of example, in some cases, the method might furthercomprise autonomously determining, with the computing system, one ormore second characteristics of the plurality of characteristics of thefirst playback device, the one or more second characteristics comprisingat least one of device manufacturer, model number, or specific firmwarerevision information. In such cases, the information regarding the oneor more first presentation characteristics comprised in the firstrequest might be based at least in part on a combination of thedetermined one or more first characteristics of the first playbackdevice and the determined one or more second characteristics of thefirst playback device.

In some embodiments, the method might further comprise storing, with thecomputing system, the determined one or more first characteristics ofthe first playback device on a local data storage device; receiving,with the computing system, a second user input from the user indicatinga user request for a second media content; autonomously determining,with the computing system, whether the first playback device has beendisconnected since its most recent usage; and based on a determinationthat the first playback device has been disconnected since its mostrecent usage and based on a determination that a second playback devicehas been connected, determining, with the computing system, whether thesecond playback device and the first playback device are the samedevice.

Based on a determination that the second playback device and the firstplayback device are the same device, the method might further compriseretrieving, with the computing system, the determined one or more firstcharacteristics of the first playback device from the local data storagedevice; sending, with the computing system and to the media contentsource over the network, a second request for the second media content,the second request comprising information regarding one or more firstpresentation characteristics that are based at least in part on thedetermined one or more first characteristics of the first playbackdevice; receiving, with the computing system, a second version of thesecond media content, the second version of the second media contenthaving the one or more first presentation characteristics; and relaying,with the computing system, the received second version of the secondmedia content to the first playback device for presentation to the userof the second version of the second media content.

Based on a determination that the second playback device and the firstplayback device are different devices, the method might further comprisedetermining, with the computing system, whether one or morecharacteristics of the second playback device are already stored on thelocal data storage device. Based on a determination that one or morethird characteristics of the second playback device are already storedon the local data storage device, the method might further compriseretrieving, with the computing system, the determined one or more thirdcharacteristics of the second playback device from the local datastorage device; sending, with the computing system and to the mediacontent source over the network, a third request for the second mediacontent, the third request comprising information regarding one or moresecond presentation characteristics that are based at least in part onthe determined one or more third characteristics of the second playbackdevice; receiving, with the computing system, a third version of thesecond media content, the third version of the second media contenthaving the one or more second presentation characteristics; andrelaying, with the computing system, the received third version of thesecond media content to the second playback device for presentation tothe user of the third version of the second media content.

Based on a determination that characteristics of the second playbackdevice are not already stored on the local data storage device, themethod might further comprise autonomously determining, with thecomputing system, one or more fourth characteristics of the secondplayback device; sending, with the computing system and to the mediacontent source over the network, a fourth request for the second mediacontent, the fourth request comprising information regarding one or morethird presentation characteristics that are based at least in part onthe determined one or more fourth characteristics of the second playbackdevice; receiving, with the computing system, a fourth version of thesecond media content, the fourth version of the second media contenthaving the one or more third presentation characteristics; and relaying,with the computing system, the received fourth version of the secondmedia content to the second playback device for presentation to the userof the fourth version of the second media content.

According to some embodiments, the second media content and the firstmedia content are the same media content, and the first playback devicehad been disconnected prior to presentation to the user of the entiretyof the first media content. In some embodiments, autonomouslydetermining the one or more first characteristics of the first playbackdevice might comprise autonomously determining, with the computingsystem, the one or more first characteristics of the plurality ofcharacteristics of the first playback device from the first playbackdevice via an interface device between the computing system and thefirst playback device.

In another aspect, an apparatus might comprise at least one processorand a non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled tothe at least one processor. The non-transitory computer readable mediummight have stored thereon computer software comprising a set ofinstructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causesthe apparatus to: receive a first user input from a user indicating auser request for a first media content; autonomously determine one ormore first characteristics of a plurality of characteristics of a firstplayback device; send, to a media content source over a network, a firstrequest for the first media content, the first request comprisinginformation regarding one or more first presentation characteristicsthat are based at least in part on the determined one or more firstcharacteristics of the first playback device; receive a first version ofthe first media content, the first version of the first media contenthaving the one or more first presentation characteristics; and relay thereceived first version of the first media content to the first playbackdevice for presentation to the user of the first version of the firstmedia content.

According to some embodiments, the apparatus might comprise a mediadevice that is communicatively coupled to the first playback device. Insome cases, the media device might comprise one of a set-top box(“STB”), a media player, a gaming console, a server computer, a desktopcomputer, or a laptop computer, and/or the like. The media player, insome instances, might comprise one of a digital versatile disc ordigital video disc (“DVD”) player, a Blu-ray disc (“BD”) player, astreaming video player, a streaming music player, or a streaming gameplayer, and/or the like. The first playback device might comprise atleast one of one or more monitors, one or more television sets, or oneor more speakers, and/or the like. Alternatively, the apparatus mightcomprise the playback device, the apparatus comprising one of a tabletcomputer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a personaldigital assistant, a portable gaming device, a smart watch, a virtualreality (“VR”) device, an augmented reality (“AR”) device, or a portablemusic player, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the one or more first characteristics mightcomprise at least one of video resolution, dynamic range, frame rate, orcolor gamut, and/or the like. In some instances, the video resolutionmight comprise one of 8K ultra-high-definition (“UHD”), 4K UHD, 1080pfull high-definition (“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720p HD, 576penhanced-definition (“ED”), 480p ED, 576i standard-definition (“SD”), or480i SD, and/or the like. The dynamic range might comprise one ofhigh-dynamic-range (“HDR”), or standard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), and/orthe like. The frame rate might comprise at least one of standard framerate (“SFR”) or high frame rate (“HFR”), and/or the like. The colorgamut might comprise one of standard color gamut (“SCG”) or wide colorgamut (“WCG”), and/or the like.

Merely by way of example, in some cases, the set of instructions, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, further causes the apparatus to:autonomously determine one or more second characteristics of theplurality of characteristics of the first playback device, the one ormore second characteristics comprising at least one of devicemanufacturer, model number, or specific firmware revision information,wherein the information regarding the one or more first presentationcharacteristics comprised in the first request is based at least in parton a combination of the determined one or more first characteristics ofthe first playback device and the determined one or more secondcharacteristics of the first playback device.

In some embodiments, the set of instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, further causes the apparatus to: store thedetermined one or more first characteristics of the first playbackdevice on a local data storage device; receive a second user input fromthe user indicating a user request for a second media content;autonomously determine whether the first playback device has beendisconnected since its most recent usage; based on a determination thatthe first playback device has been disconnected since its most recentusage and based on a determination that a second playback device hasbeen connected, determine whether the second playback device and thefirst playback device are the same device; and based on a determinationthat the second playback device and the first playback device are thesame device: retrieve the determined one or more first characteristicsof the first playback device from the local data storage device; send,to the media content source over the network, a second request for thesecond media content, the second request comprising informationregarding one or more first presentation characteristics that are basedat least in part on the determined one or more first characteristics ofthe first playback device; receive a second version of the second mediacontent, the second version of the second media content having the oneor more first presentation characteristics; and relay the receivedsecond version of the second media content to the first playback devicefor presentation to the user of the second version of the second mediacontent.

According to some embodiments, the set of instructions, when executed bythe at least one processor, further causes the apparatus to: based on adetermination that the second playback device and the first playbackdevice are different devices, determine whether one or morecharacteristics of the second playback device are already stored on thelocal data storage device; and based on a determination that one or morethird characteristics of the second playback device are already storedon the local data storage device: retrieve the determined one or morethird characteristics of the second playback device from the local datastorage device; send, to the media content source over the network, athird request for the second media content, the third request comprisinginformation regarding one or more second presentation characteristicsthat are based at least in part on the determined one or more thirdcharacteristics of the second playback device; receive a third versionof the second media content, the third version of the second mediacontent having the one or more second presentation characteristics; andrelay the received third version of the second media content to thesecond playback device for presentation to the user of the third versionof the second media content.

In some embodiments, the set of instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, further causes the apparatus to: based on adetermination that characteristics of the second playback device are notalready stored on the local data storage device: autonomously determineone or more fourth characteristics of the second playback device; send,to the media content source over the network, a fourth request for thesecond media content, the fourth request comprising informationregarding one or more third presentation characteristics that are basedat least in part on the determined one or more fourth characteristics ofthe second playback device; receive a fourth version of the second mediacontent, the fourth version of the second media content having the oneor more third presentation characteristics; and relay the receivedfourth version of the second media content to the second playback devicefor presentation to the user of the fourth version of the second mediacontent.

According to some embodiments, the second media content and the firstmedia content are the same media content, and the first playback devicehad been disconnected prior to presentation to the user of the entiretyof the first media content.

In yet another aspect, a system might comprise a computing system and afirst playback device. The computing system might comprise at least onefirst processor and a first non-transitory computer readable mediumcommunicatively coupled to the at least one first processor. The firstnon-transitory computer readable medium might have stored thereoncomputer software comprising a first set of instructions that, whenexecuted by the at least one first processor, causes the computingsystem to: receive a first user input from a user indicating a userrequest for a first media content; autonomously determine one or morefirst characteristics of a plurality of characteristics of a firstplayback device; send, to a media content source over a network, a firstrequest for the first media content, the first request comprisinginformation regarding one or more first presentation characteristicsthat are based at least in part on the determined one or more firstcharacteristics of the first playback device; receive a first version ofthe first media content, the first version of the first media contenthaving the one or more first presentation characteristics; and relay thereceived first version of the first media content to the first playbackdevice for presentation to the user of the first version of the firstmedia content.

The first playback device might comprise at least one second processorand a second non-transitory computer readable medium communicativelycoupled to the at least one second processor. The second non-transitorycomputer readable medium might have stored thereon computer softwarecomprising a second set of instructions that, when executed by the atleast one second processor, causes the first playback device to: receivethe first version of the first media content relayed from the computingsystem; and present the first version of the first media content to theuser.

In some embodiments, the computing system might comprise a media devicethat is communicatively coupled to the first playback device. The mediadevice might comprise one of a set-top box (“STB”), a media player, agaming console, a server computer, a desktop computer, or a laptopcomputer, and/or the like. The media player might comprise one of adigital versatile disc or digital video disc (“DVD”) player, a Blu-raydisc (“BD”) player, a streaming video player, a streaming music player,or a streaming game player, and/or the like. The first playback devicemight comprise at least one of one or more monitors, one or moretelevision sets, or one or more speakers, and/or the like.Alternatively, the computing system and the first playback device mightbe integrated within a single device, the single device comprising oneof a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone,a personal digital assistant, a portable gaming device, a smart watch, avirtual reality (“VR”) device, an augmented reality (“AR”) device, or aportable music player, and/or the like.

According to some embodiments, the one or more first characteristicsmight comprise at least one of video resolution, dynamic range, framerate, or color gamut, and/or the like. In some instances, the videoresolution might comprise one of 8K ultra-high-definition (“UHD”), 4KUHD, 1080p full high-definition (“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720p HD, 576penhanced-definition (“ED”), 480p ED, 576i standard-definition (“SD”), or480i SD, and/or the like. The dynamic range might comprise one ofhigh-dynamic-range (“HDR”), or standard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), and/orthe like. The frame rate might comprise at least one of standard framerate (“SFR”) or high frame rate (“HFR”), and/or the like. The colorgamut might comprise one of standard color gamut (“SCG”) or wide colorgamut (“WCG”), and/or the like.

In some embodiments, autonomously determining the one or more firstcharacteristics of the first playback device might comprise autonomouslydetermining, with the computing system, the one or more firstcharacteristics of the plurality of characteristics of the firstplayback device from the first playback device via an interface devicebetween the computing system and the first playback device.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the embodimentsdiscussed without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, while the embodiments described above refer to particularfeatures, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments havingdifferent combination of features and embodiments that do not includeall of the above described features.

Specific Exemplary Embodiments

We now turn to the embodiments as illustrated by the drawings. FIGS. 1-6illustrate some of the features of the method, system, and apparatus forimplementing media content streaming or downloading and media contentplayback, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatusesfor implementing video quality optimization based on displaycapabilities, as referred to above. The methods, systems, andapparatuses illustrated by FIGS. 1-6 refer to examples of differentembodiments that include various components and steps, which can beconsidered alternatives or which can be used in conjunction with oneanother in the various embodiments. The description of the illustratedmethods, systems, and apparatuses shown in FIGS. 1-6 is provided forpurposes of illustration and should not be considered to limit the scopeof the different embodiments.

With reference to the figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagramillustrating a system 100 for implementing video quality optimizationbased on display capabilities, in accordance with various embodiments.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 1, system 100 might comprise acomputing system 105 a and a data store or database 110 a that is localto the computing system 105 a. In some cases, the database 110 a mightbe external, yet communicatively coupled, to the computing system 105 a.In other cases, the database 110 a might be integrated within thecomputing system 105 a. System 100, according to some embodiments, mightfurther comprise one or more playback devices 115, which might include,without limitation, at least one of one or more display devices 120a-120 n (collectively, “display devices 120” or the like) and/or one ormore audio playback devices 125 a-125 n (collectively, “audio playbackdevices 125” or the like), and/or the like. Each of the one or moreplayback devices 115 might communicatively couple to the computingsystem 105 a, either via wireless connection and/or via wiredconnection. In some instances, system 100 might further comprise one ormore user devices 130 a-130 n (collectively, “user devices 130” or thelike) that might communicatively couple to the computing system 105 a(either via wireless and/or wired connection), and might receive userinput from a user and might relay the user input to the computing system105 a, according to some embodiments. In some cases, the user devices130 might include, without limitation, at least one of a dedicatedremote control device that is associated with the computing system 105a, a universal remote control device that has been paired, synced, orsynchronized with the computing system 105 a, a tablet computer that hasbeen paired, synced, or synchronized with the computing system 105 a, asmart phone that has been paired, synced, or synchronized with thecomputing system 105 a, or other portable device that has been paired,synced, or synchronized with the computing system 105 a, and/or thelike. In some cases, the computing system 105 a, the database 110 a, theone or more playback devices 115 (including the display device(s) 120and/or the audio playback device(s) 125, etc.), and the user device(s)130 may be disposed within a customer premises 135, which might be oneof a single family house, a multi-dwelling unit (“MDU”) within amulti-dwelling complex (including, but not limited to, an apartmentbuilding, an apartment complex, a condominium complex, a townhousecomplex, a mixed-use building, etc.), a motel, an inn, a hotel, anoffice building or complex, a commercial building or complex, anindustrial building or complex, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the computing system 105 a might comprise a mediadevice that is communicatively coupled to the one or more playbackdevices 115. In some cases, the media device might include, but is notlimited to, one of a set-top box (“STB”), a media player, a gamingconsole, a server computer, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer,and/or the like. The media player might include, without limitation, oneof a digital versatile disc or digital video disc (“DVD”) player, aBlu-ray disc (“BD”) player, a streaming video player, a streaming musicplayer, or a streaming game player, and/or the like, while the one ormore playback devices 115 might include, but are not limited to, atleast one of one or more monitors, one or more television sets, or oneor more speakers, and/or the like. FIG. 2A depicts a non-limitingembodiment of such media devices. Alternatively, the computing systemand the one or more playback devices 115 might be integrated within asingle device, the single device including, without limitation, one of atablet computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, apersonal digital assistant, a portable gaming device, a smart watch, avirtual reality (“VR”) device, an augmented reality (“AR”) device, or aportable music player, and/or the like. FIG. 2B depicts a non-limitingembodiment of such single devices.

System 100 might further comprise one or more media content sources orservers 140 and corresponding databases 145 that might communicativelycouple to the computing system 105 a via one or more networks 150 (andin some cases, via one or more telecommunications relay systems 155,which might include, without limitation, one or more wireless networkinterfaces (e.g., wireless modems, wireless access points, and thelike), one or more towers, one or more satellites, and/or the like). Thelightning bolt symbols are used to denote wireless communicationsbetween the one or more telecommunications relay systems 155 and thecomputing system 105 a, between the one or more telecommunications relaysystems 155 and each of at least one of the user devices 130, betweenthe computing system 105 a and each of at least one of the playbackdevices 115, between the computing system 105 a and each of at least oneof the user devices 130, and/or the like. According to some embodiments,alternative or additional to the computing system 105 a andcorresponding database 110 a being disposed within customer premises135, system 100 might comprise remote computing system 105 b andcorresponding database(s) 110 b that communicatively couple with the oneor more user devices 130 in the customer premises via the one or morenetworks 150 (and in some cases, via the one or more telecommunicationsrelay systems 155).

In operation, the computing system 105 a or 105 b might receive a firstuser input from a user (in some cases, either directly via interactionswith the computing system 105 a or 105 b or indirectly via userdevice(s) 130 a-130 n and via network(s) 150, or the like) indicating auser request for a first media content. The computing system 105 a or105 b might autonomously determine one or more first characteristics ofa plurality of characteristics of a first playback device 115 (i.e., atleast one of the one or more display devices 120 a-120 n or the one ormore audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, or the like). The computingsystem 105 a or 105 b might subsequently send, to the media contentsource(s) 140 over network 150, a first request for the first mediacontent, the first request comprising information regarding one or morefirst presentation characteristics that are based at least in part onthe determined one or more first characteristics of the first playbackdevice. The computing system 105 a or 105 b might receive a firstversion of the first media content, the first version of the first mediacontent having the one or more first presentation characteristics, andmight relay the received first version of the first media content to thefirst playback device 115 for presentation to the user of the firstversion of the first media content.

According to some embodiments, the one or more first characteristicsmight comprise at least one of video resolution, dynamic range, framerate, or color gamut, and/or the like. In some cases, the videoresolution might comprise one of 8K ultra-high-definition (“UHD”), 4KUHD, 1080p full high-definition (“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720p HD, 576penhanced-definition (“ED”), 480p ED, 576i standard-definition (“SD”), or480i SD, and/or the like. The dynamic range might comprise one ofhigh-dynamic-range (“HDR”), or standard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), and/orthe like. The frame rate might comprise at least one of standard framerate (“SFR”) or high frame rate (“HFR”), and/or the like. The colorgamut might comprise one of standard color gamut (“SCG”) or wide colorgamut (“WCG”), and/or the like. Herein, the term “standard color gamutor SCG” might refer to color spaces used for standard definitiontelevision (“SDTV”) or high definition TV (“HDTV”) formats, includingITU-R Recommendation BT.601 (or Rec.601), ITU-R Recommendation BT.709(or Rec.709), and/or the like. The term “wide color gamut or WCG” mightrefer to color spaces exceeding the color gamut BT.601 and BT.709, suchas ITU-R Recommendation BT.2020 (or Rec. 2020), DCI-P3, and/or any othercolor space that may be standardized in the future.

In various embodiments, a STB, media player, or similar kind of replaydevice (i.e., computing system 105 a or 105 b of system 100 or the like)may be able to obtain information about the capabilities of the attachedTV or other display and—if needed—cache it locally in non-volatilememory (either an external database 110 a or 110 b, or an integrateddata store, such as data store 210 of FIG. 2A or 2B, or the like). Suchinformation may include, but is not limited to, resolution, dynamicrange capability, frame rate capability, and/or color spacerepresentation, or the like, as described above. The system may be ableto automatically select content in a format whose quality best matchesthe capabilities of the attached display (in terms of resolution,dynamic range, color reproduction, and/or frame rate, or the like).

If the STB or media player is able to recognize whether the display hasbeen disconnected or not since its most recent usage, it can also uselocal non-volatile memory to maintain status information about thedisplay and its capabilities. If the STB or media player has determinedthat it is still connected to the same TV or display monitor, it can usethe cached data to determine the level of content quality that it shouldrequest from the video service provider, thus reducing signalingoverhead and any potential delay that may occur in querying the TV. Ifit is unable to recognize whether the connected TV is the same or adifferent model, it will query the TV to obtain all of the requiredinformation.

In a non-limiting example, if the user's display device is capable of 4Kresolution, the STB or media player will request a 4K version of theselected content from the operator's or service provider's playoutsource or from the media content source(s). If the user's TV is onlycapable of HD resolution, then streaming 4K content does not make sense,as it would get down-sampled in the STB, media player, or the TV. Thisapproach significantly reduces bandwidth usage in the operator's orservice provider's network and guarantees that the user always receivesa highest quality video feed, most closely matching the display'scapabilities.

Various advantages arise from the various embodiments described herein.For instance, for operators or service providers, the variousembodiments enable bandwidth optimization and bandwidth savings; preventusage of network for information that will get discarded at the user'send (i.e., consumer device would not be able to display, e.g., an UHDand/or HDR/HFR/WCG video signal on a regular HDTV set). For vendors ofSTBs or media players, utilizing the various embodiments can allow suchvendors to distinguish themselves amongst consumers by including thiscapability. For the users (i.e., subscribers/consumers, etc.), thevarious embodiments ensure that the users always get the best possiblevideo signal that their TV can display. As mentioned above, although thevarious embodiments are described with respect to video qualityoptimization based on display capabilities, the various embodiments arenot limited to video services, and can similarly apply to audio qualityoptimization based on audio capabilities, game play quality optimizationbased on display and audio capabilities, image quality optimizationbased on display capabilities, and/or the like.

These and other functions of the system 100 (and its components) aredescribed in greater detail below with respect to FIGS. 2-4.

FIGS. 2A and 2B (collectively, “FIG. 2”) are schematic diagramsillustrating various embodiments 200 and 200′ of a system that may beused for implementing video quality optimization based on displaycapabilities.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 2A, according to someembodiments, system 200 might comprise a computing system 105 a (whichmight correspond to computing system 105 a of system 100 of FIG. 1, orthe like) that might include, without limitation, one or more processors205, one or more data stores or computer readable storage media 210, andone or more communications transceivers 215. In some instances,computing system 105 a might enable indirect interaction with a user 220via one or more user devices 130 a-130 n (which might correspond to userdevices 130 of system 100 of FIG. 1, or the like). The lightning boltsymbols are used to denote wireless communications between the one ormore communications transceivers 215 and each of at least one of theuser devices 130, and/or the like.

Alternatively, or additionally, computing system 105 a might compriseone or more user interface devices that enable direct interaction withthe user 220. The one or more user interface devices, in someembodiments, might include, without limitation, at least one of one ormore audio input/output (“I/O”) devices 225 (which might include, butare not limited to, at least one of one or more microphones or audiosensors 230 a-230 n (collectively, “microphones 230” or “audio sensors230”), one or more speakers 235, one or more sound amplitude detectors(not shown), one or more sound frequency detectors (not shown), or oneor more voice recognition devices (not shown), and/or the like)(optional), one or more buttons/switches/dials/toggles/pointerstick/etc. 240 (collectively, “buttons 240”) (optional), one or moretouchscreen display devices 245 (which in some cases might includeorganic light emitting diode (“oLED”) displays or similar displays,etc.) (optional), one or more LED/display devices 250 (optional), or oneor more other I/O devices 255 (optional), and/or the like.

The one or more other I/O devices 255, in some cases, might include,without limitation, at least one of the following sets of components: acombination of one or more microphones, one or more speakers (whichmight include built-in speakers or external speakers connected throughan audio jack or the like), one or more audio processors, and/or thelike for voice interface functionality; one or more of at least onebutton, at least one touchscreen user interface, at least one displayinterface, and/or the like for touch interface functionality; one ormore vibration, pressure, or force transducers and/or one or morepressure sensors that enable haptic feedback interface functionality;one or more wireless transceivers that communicate with one or more userdevices associated with the user using any one or a combination of thewireless protocols described herein (including, but not limited to, 2.4GHz or 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth, Z-wave, ZigBee, etc.) for wirelesscommunication interface functionality; and/or the like. In some cases,the communications transceivers 215 might provide communications (eitherwired or wireless) between the computing system 105 a and the mediacontent source(s) or server(s) 140 and corresponding databases 145(which might correspond to media content source(s) 140 and correspondingdatabase(s) 145 of system 100 of FIG. 1, or the like) via network(s) 150(which might correspond to network(s) 150 of system 100 of FIG. 1, orthe like), might provide machine-to-machine communications (either wiredor wireless) between the computing system 105 a and each of the one ormore playback devices 115 (which might correspond to the playbackdevice(s) 115 of system 100 of FIG. 1, or the like), which mightinclude, but are not limited to, one or more display devices 120 a-120 n(which might correspond to the display device(s) 120 of system 100 ofFIG. 1, or the like) and/or one or more audio playback devices 125 a-125n (which might correspond to the audio playback device(s) 125 of system100 of FIG. 1, or the like), in some cases via one or more interfacedevices 260.

According to some embodiments, the one or more interface devices 260might comprise at least one of one or more cables, one or more wirelesslinks, and/or the like. The one or more cables, in some instances, mightinclude, without limitation, at least one of one or more high-definitionmultimedia interface (“HDMI”) cables, one or more display port cables,one or more digital visual interface (“DVI”) cables, one or moreuniversal serial bus (“USB”) cables, one or more FireWire or IEEE 1394cables, one or more video graphics array (“VGA”) cables, one or moreThunderbolt cables, or one or more DisplayPort cables, and/or the like.Video interfaces such as HDMI (and potentially others) containprovisions that enable a media player (e.g., a STB, etc.) to requestdetailed information about capabilities from its attached displaydevice. Furthermore, the HDMI standard is constantly being enhanced, andadditional capabilities are very likely going to be added to futureversions. As of filing of the '507 application, the most recent versionof HDMI (i.e., HDMI 2.0a) includes support for so-called static HDRmetadata (using the same set of HDR metadata for the entire content).The planned HDMI 2.1 includes support for dynamic, scene-by-scene HDRmetadata. Another viable interface is DisplayPort. The current version(1.4, as of filing of the '507 application) includes HDR support. In thefuture, new video interfaces may emerge that expand on thesecapabilities, and the various embodiments would allow for implementationto allow for similar such capabilities. As described herein, additionalinformation to be retrieved from the display may also include data suchas manufacturer, model number, specific firmware revisions, factorycalibration information, and/or similar types of data, or the like. Suchdata may be useful to further optimize picture quality.

The computing system 105 a, the one or more playback devices 115, theone or more display devices 120 a-120 n, the one or more audio playbackdevices 125 a-125 n, the one or more user devices 130 a-130 n, the mediacontent source(s) or server(s) 140, the databases 145, and thenetwork(s) 150 of system 200 in FIG. 2A are otherwise similar, if notidentical, to the computing system 105 a, the one or more playbackdevices 115, the one or more display devices 120 a-120 n, the one ormore audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, the one or more user devices130 a-130 n, the media content source(s) or server(s) 140, the databases145, and the network(s) 150, respectively, of system 100 in FIG. 1, andthe descriptions of these components of system 100 are applicable to thecorresponding components of system 200, respectively.

Turning to the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 2B, in some embodiments,system 200′ might comprise a computing system 105′ (which mightcorrespond to computing system 105 a of system 100 of FIG. 1 orcomputing system 105 a of system 200 of FIG. 2A, or the like) that mightinclude, without limitation, one or more processors 205, one or moredata stores or computer readable storage media 210, and one or morecommunications transceivers 215. The computing system 105′ might furthercomprise at least one of display device 120′ and/or audio playbackdevice 125′, each of which (if present) may be integrated within ahousing of the computing system 105′.

In some instances, computing system 105′ might comprise one or more userinterface devices that enable direct interaction with the user 220. Theone or more user interface devices, in some embodiments, might include,without limitation, at least one of one or more audio input/output(“I/O”) devices 225 (which might include, but are not limited to, atleast one of one or more microphones or audio sensors 230 a-230 n(collectively, “microphones 230” or “audio sensors 230”), one or morespeakers 235, one or more sound amplitude detectors (not shown), one ormore sound frequency detectors (not shown), or one or more voicerecognition devices (not shown), and/or the like) (optional), one ormore buttons/switches/dials/toggles/pointer stick/etc. 240(collectively, “buttons 240”) (optional), one or more touchscreendisplay devices 245 (which in some cases might include organic lightemitting diode (“oLED”) displays or similar displays, etc.) (optional),one or more LED/display devices 250 (optional), or one or more other I/Odevices 255 (optional), and/or the like.

The one or more other I/O devices 255, in some cases, might include,without limitation, at least one of the following sets of components: acombination of one or more microphones, one or more speakers (whichmight include built-in speakers or external speakers connected throughan audio jack or the like), one or more audio processors, and/or thelike for voice interface functionality; one or more of at least onebutton, at least one touchscreen user interface, at least one displayinterface, and/or the like for touch interface functionality; one ormore vibration, pressure, or force transducers and/or one or morepressure sensors that enable haptic feedback interface functionality;one or more wireless transceivers that communicate with one or more userdevices associated with the user using any one or a combination of thewireless protocols described herein (including, but not limited to, 2.4GHz or 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth, Z-wave, ZigBee, etc.) for wirelesscommunication interface functionality; and/or the like. In some cases,the communications transceivers 215 might provide communications (eitherwired or wireless) between the computing system 105′ and the mediacontent source(s) or server(s) 140 and corresponding databases 145(which might correspond to media content source(s) 140 and correspondingdatabase(s) 145 of system 100 of FIG. 1, or the like) via network(s) 150(which might correspond to network(s) 150 of system 100 of FIG. 1, orthe like), might provide machine-to-machine communications (either wiredor wireless) between the computing system 105′ and each of the one ormore external playback devices 115′ (which might correspond to theplayback device(s) 115 of system 100 of FIG. 1 or the playback device(s)115 of system 200 of FIG. 2A, or the like), which might include, but arenot limited to, one or more external display devices 120 a′-120 n′(which might correspond to the display device(s) 120 of system 100 ofFIG. 1 or the display devices 120 a-120 n of system 200 of FIG. 2A, orthe like) and/or one or more external audio playback devices 125 a′-125n′ (which might correspond to the audio playback device(s) 125 of system100 of FIG. 1 or the audio playback devices 125 a-125 n of system 200 ofFIG. 2A, or the like), in some cases via one or more interface devices260.

According to some embodiments, the one or more interface devices 260might comprise at least one of one or more cables, one or more wirelesslinks, and/or the like. The one or more cables, in some instances, mightinclude, without limitation, at least one of one or more high-definitionmultimedia interface (“HDMI”) cables, one or more display port cables,one or more digital visual interface (“DVI”) cables, one or moreuniversal serial bus (“USB”) cables, one or more FireWire or IEEE 1394cables, one or more video graphics array (“VGA”) cables, one or moreThunderbolt cables, or one or more DisplayPort cables, and/or the like.Video interfaces such as HDMI (and potentially others) containprovisions that enable a media player (e.g., a STB, etc.) to requestdetailed information about capabilities from its attached displaydevice. Furthermore, the HDMI standard is constantly being enhanced, andadditional capabilities are very likely going to be added to futureversions. As of filing of the '507 application, the most recent versionof HDMI (i.e., HDMI 2.0a) includes support for so-called static HDRmetadata (using the same set of HDR metadata for the entire content).The planned HDMI 2.1 includes support for dynamic, scene-by-scene HDRmetadata. Another viable interface is DisplayPort. The current version(1.4, as of filing of the '507 application) includes HDR support. In thefuture, new video interfaces may emerge that expand on thesecapabilities, and the various embodiments would allow for implementationto allow for similar such capabilities. As described herein, additionalinformation to be retrieved from the display may also include data suchas manufacturer, model number, specific firmware revisions, factorycalibration information, and/or similar types of data, or the like. Suchdata may be useful to further optimize picture quality.

The computing system 105′, the one or more user interface devices225-255, the one or more external playback devices 115, the one or moreexternal display devices 120 a′-120 n′, the one or more external audioplayback devices 125 a′-125 n′, the media content source(s) or server(s)140, the databases 145, and the network(s) 150 of system 200′ in FIG. 2Bare otherwise similar, if not identical, to the computing system 105 a,the one or more user interface devices 225-255, the one or more playbackdevices 115, the one or more display devices 120 a-120 n, the one ormore audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, the one or more user devices130 a-130 n, the media content source(s) or server(s) 140, the databases145, and the network(s) 150 of system 200 in FIG. 2A, and thedescriptions of these components of system 200 are applicable to thecorresponding components of system 200′, respectively.

The computing system 105′, the one or more external playback devices115, the one or more external display devices 120 a′-120 n′ (as well asthe integrated display devices 120′), the one or more external audioplayback devices 125 a′-125 n′ (as well as the integrated audio playbackdevices 125′), the media content source(s) or server(s) 140, thedatabases 145, and the network(s) 150 of system 200′ in FIG. 2B areotherwise similar, if not identical, to the computing system 105 a, theone or more playback devices 115, the one or more display devices 120a-120 n′, the one or more audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, the mediacontent source(s) or server(s) 140, the databases 145, and thenetwork(s) 150, respectively, of system 100 in FIG. 1, and thedescriptions of these components of system 100 are applicable to thecorresponding components of system 200′, respectively.

FIGS. 3A-3D (collectively, “FIG. 3”) are flow diagrams illustrating amethod 300 for implementing video quality optimization based on displaycapabilities, in accordance with various embodiments. Method 300 of FIG.3A continues onto FIG. 3B following the circular marker denoted, “A,”which continues onto FIG. 3C following the circular marker denoted, “B,”or continues onto FIG. 3D following the circular marker denoted, “C.”

While the techniques and procedures are depicted and/or described in acertain order for purposes of illustration, it should be appreciatedthat certain procedures may be reordered and/or omitted within the scopeof various embodiments. Moreover, while the method 300 illustrated byFIG. 3 can be implemented by or with (and, in some cases, are describedbelow with respect to) the systems 100, 200, and 200′ of FIGS. 1, 2A,and 2B, respectively (or components thereof), such methods may also beimplemented using any suitable hardware (or software) implementation.Similarly, while each of the systems 100, 200, and 200′ of FIGS. 1, 2A,and 2B, respectively (or components thereof), can operate according tothe method 300 illustrated by FIG. 3 (e.g., by executing instructionsembodied on a computer readable medium), the systems 100, 200, and 200′of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B can each also operate according to other modes ofoperation and/or perform other suitable procedures.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 3A, method 300, at block 302,receiving, with a computing system (which might correspond to computingsystems 105 a, 105 b, and 105′ of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like), afirst user input from a user indicating a user request for a first mediacontent. At block 304, method 300 might comprise autonomouslydetermining, with the computing system, one or more firstcharacteristics of a plurality of characteristics of a first playbackdevice (which might correspond to display devices 120 a-120 n′, 120a′-120 n″, 120′, 245, and 250 of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like, toaudio playback devices 125 a-125 n, 125 a′-125 n′, 125′, 225, and 235 ofFIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like, or to playback devices 115 and 115′ ofFIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like). In some cases, autonomouslydetermining the one or more first characteristics of the first playbackdevice might comprise autonomously determining, with the computingsystem, the one or more first characteristics of the plurality ofcharacteristics of the first playback device from the first playbackdevice via an interface device (which might correspond to interfacedevices 260 of FIG. 2, or the like) between the computing system and thefirst playback device (optional block 306).

In some embodiments, the computing system might comprise a media devicethat is communicatively coupled to the first playback device. In somecases, the media device might include, but is not limited to, one of aset-top box (“STB”), a media player, a gaming console, a servercomputer, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer, and/or the like. Themedia player might include, without limitation, one of a digitalversatile disc or digital video disc (“DVD”) player, a Blu-ray disc(“BD”) player, a streaming video player, a streaming music player, or astreaming game player, and/or the like, while the playback device mightinclude, but is not limited to, at least one of one or more monitors,one or more television sets, or one or more speakers, and/or the like.Alternatively, the computing system and the first playback device(s)might be integrated within a single device, the single device including,without limitation, one of a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable gamingdevice, a smart watch, a virtual reality (“VR”) device, an augmentedreality (“AR”) device, or a portable music player, and/or the like.

According to some embodiments, the one or more first characteristicsmight comprise at least one of video resolution, dynamic range, framerate, or color gamut, and/or the like. In some cases, the videoresolution might comprise one of 8K ultra-high-definition (“UHD”), 4KUHD, 1080p full high-definition (“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720p HD, 576penhanced-definition (“ED”), 480p ED, 576i standard-definition (“SD”), or480i SD, and/or the like. The dynamic range might comprise one ofhigh-dynamic-range (“HDR”), or standard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), and/orthe like. The frame rate might comprise at least one of standard framerate (“SFR”) or high frame rate (“HFR”), and/or the like. The colorgamut might comprise one of standard color gamut (“SCG”) or wide colorgamut (“WCG”), and/or the like.

Method 300 might further comprise, at block 308, storing, with thecomputing system, the determined one or more first characteristics ofthe first playback device on a local data storage device (which mightcorrespond to database(s) 110 a or 110 b, or data store 210 of FIGS. 1and 2, or the like). Method 300 might further comprise autonomouslydetermining, with the computing system, one or more secondcharacteristics of the plurality of characteristics of the firstplayback device, the one or more second characteristics including,without limitation, at least one of device manufacturer, model number,or specific firmware revision information, and/or the like (optionalblock 310) and storing, with the computing system, the determined one ormore second characteristics of the first playback device on the localdata storage device (optional block 312).

At block 314, method 300 might comprise sending, with the computingsystem and to a media content source (which might correspond to mediacontent sources (or servers) 140 and corresponding databases 145 ofFIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like) over a network (which might correspondto network 150 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like), a first request for thefirst media content, the first request comprising information regardingone or more first presentation characteristics that are based at leastin part on the determined one or more first characteristics of the firstplayback device (and, in some cases, also based at least in part on thedetermined one or more second characteristics of the first playbackdevice).

Method 300, at block 316, might comprise receiving, with the computingsystem, a first version of the first media content, the first version ofthe first media content having the one or more first presentationcharacteristics. Method 300 might further comprise relaying, with thecomputing system, the received first version of the first media contentto the first playback device for presentation to the user of the firstversion of the first media content (block 318) and presenting, with thefirst playback device, the received first version of the first mediacontent to the user (block 320). Method 300 might continue onto theprocess at block 322 in FIG. 3B following the circular marker denoted,“A.”

Turning to FIG. 3B, method 300, at block 322, might comprise receiving,with the computing system, a second user input from the user indicatinga user request for a second media content. Method 300 might furthercomprise autonomously determining, with the computing system, whetherthe first playback device has been disconnected since its most recentusage (block 324). If not, method 300 skips to the process at block 328.If so, method 300 continues onto the process at block 326, at whichmethod 300 might comprise based on a determination that a secondplayback device has been connected, determining, with the computingsystem, whether the second playback device and the first playback deviceare the same device. If not, method 300 skips to the process at block338. If so, method 300 continues onto the process at block 328, atwhich, method 300 might comprise retrieving, with the computing system,the determined one or more first characteristics of the first playbackdevice from the local data storage device. At block 330, method 300might comprise sending, with the computing system and to the mediacontent source over the network, a second request for the second mediacontent, the second request comprising information regarding one or morefirst presentation characteristics that are based at least in part onthe determined one or more first characteristics of the first playbackdevice. Method 300 might further comprise receiving, with the computingsystem, a second version of the second media content, the second versionof the second media content having the one or more first presentationcharacteristics (block 332), relaying, with the computing system, thereceived second version of the second media content to the firstplayback device for presentation to the user of the second version ofthe second media content (block 334), and presenting, with the firstplayback device, the received second version of the second media contentto the user (block 336). Turning back to block 326, based on adetermination that the second playback device and the first playbackdevice are different devices, method 300 proceeds to the process atblock 338, at which method 300 might comprise determining, with thecomputing system, whether one or more characteristics of the secondplayback device are already stored on the local data storage device. Ifso, method 300 continues onto the process at block 340 in FIG. 3Cfollowing the circular marker denoted, “B.” If not, method 300 continuesonto the process at block 350 in FIG. 3D following the circular markerdenoted, “C.”

With reference to FIG. 3C (following the circular marker denoted, “B”),method 300, at block 340, might comprise retrieving, with the computingsystem, a determined one or more third characteristics of the secondplayback device from the local data storage device. At block 342, method300 might comprise sending, with the computing system and to the mediacontent source over the network, a third request for the second mediacontent, the third request comprising information regarding one or moresecond presentation characteristics that are based at least in part onthe determined one or more third characteristics of the second playbackdevice. Method 300 might further comprise receiving, with the computingsystem, a third version of the second media content, the third versionof the second media content having the one or more second presentationcharacteristics (block 344), relaying, with the computing system, thereceived third version of the second media content to the secondplayback device for presentation to the user of the third version of thesecond media content (block 346), and presenting, with the secondplayback device, the received third version of the second media contentto the user (block 348).

Turning to FIG. 3D (following the circular marker denoted, “C”), method300, at block 350, might comprise autonomously determining, with thecomputing system, one or more fourth characteristics of the secondplayback device. Method 300 might further comprise, at block 352,storing, with the computing system, the determined one or more fourthcharacteristics of the second playback device on the local data storagedevice. At block 354, method 300 might comprise sending, with thecomputing system and to the media content source over the network, afourth request for the second media content, the fourth requestcomprising information regarding one or more third presentationcharacteristics that are based at least in part on the determined one ormore fourth characteristics of the second playback device. Method 300might further comprise receiving, with the computing system, a fourthversion of the second media content, the fourth version of the secondmedia content having the one or more third presentation characteristics(block 356), relaying, with the computing system, the received fourthversion of the second media content to the second playback device forpresentation to the user of the fourth version of the second mediacontent (block 358), and presenting, with the second playback device,the received fourth version of the second media content to the user(block 360).

FIGS. 4A-4C (collectively, “FIG. 4”) are flow diagrams illustratinganother method 400 for implementing video quality optimization based ondisplay capabilities, in accordance with various embodiments. Method 400of FIG. 4A continues onto FIG. 4B following the circular marker denoted,“C,” which continues onto FIG. 4C following the circular marker denoted,“D.” Method 400 of each of FIGS. 4B and 4C return to FIG. 4A followingthe circular marker denoted, “A.”

While the techniques and procedures are depicted and/or described in acertain order for purposes of illustration, it should be appreciatedthat certain procedures may be reordered and/or omitted within the scopeof various embodiments. Moreover, while the method 400 illustrated byFIG. 4 can be implemented by or with (and, in some cases, are describedbelow with respect to) the systems 100, 200, and 200′ of FIGS. 1, 2A,and 2B, respectively (or components thereof), such methods may also beimplemented using any suitable hardware (or software) implementation.Similarly, while each of the systems 100, 200, and 200′ of FIGS. 1, 2A,and 2B, respectively (or components thereof), can operate according tothe method 400 illustrated by FIG. 4 (e.g., by executing instructionsembodied on a computer readable medium), the systems 100, 200, and 200′of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B can each also operate according to other modes ofoperation and/or perform other suitable procedures.

In the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 4A, method 400, at block 402,receiving, with a computing system (which might correspond to computingsystems 105 a, 105 b, and 105′ of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like), afirst user input from a user indicating a user request for a mediacontent. Method 400 might further comprise autonomously determining,with the computing system, whether a first playback device (which mightcorrespond to display devices 120 a-120 n′, 120 a′-120 n″, 120′, 245,and 250 of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like, to audio playback devices125 a-125 n, 125 a′-125 n′, 125′, 225, and 235 of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B,or the like, or to playback devices 115 and 115′ of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B,or the like) has been disconnected since its most recent usage (block404). If so, method 400 skips to the process at block 416. If not,method 400 continues on the process at block 406.

In some embodiments, the computing system might comprise a media devicethat is communicatively coupled to the first playback device. In somecases, the media device might include, but is not limited to, one of aset-top box (“STB”), a media player, a gaming console, a servercomputer, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer, and/or the like. Themedia player might include, without limitation, one of a digitalversatile disc or digital video disc (“DVD”) player, a Blu-ray disc(“BD”) player, a streaming video player, a streaming music player, or astreaming game player, and/or the like, while the playback device mightinclude, but is not limited to, at least one of one or more monitors,one or more television sets, or one or more speakers, and/or the like.Alternatively, the computing system and the first playback device(s)might be integrated within a single device, the single device including,without limitation, one of a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable gamingdevice, a smart watch, a virtual reality (“VR”) device, an augmentedreality (“AR”) device, or a portable music player, and/or the like.

According to some embodiments, the one or more first characteristicsmight comprise at least one of video resolution, dynamic range, framerate, or color gamut, and/or the like. In some cases, the videoresolution might comprise one of 8K ultra-high-definition (“UHD”), 4KUHD, 1080p full high-definition (“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720p HD, 576penhanced-definition (“ED”), 480p ED, 576i standard-definition (“SD”), or480i SD, and/or the like. The dynamic range might comprise one ofhigh-dynamic-range (“HDR”), or standard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), and/orthe like. The frame rate might comprise at least one of standard framerate (“SFR”) or high frame rate (“HFR”), and/or the like. The colorgamut might comprise one of standard color gamut (“SCG”) or wide colorgamut (“WCG”), and/or the like.

Method 400, at block 406, might comprise retrieving, with the computingsystem, a determined one or more first characteristics of the firstplayback device from a local data storage device (which might correspondto database(s) 110 a or 110 b, or data store 210 of FIGS. 1 and 2, orthe like). At block 408, method 400 might comprise sending, with thecomputing system and to a media content source (which might correspondto media content sources (or servers) 140 and corresponding databases145 of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like) over a network (which mightcorrespond to network 150 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the like), a firstrequest for the media content, the first request comprising informationregarding one or more first presentation characteristics that are basedat least in part on the determined one or more first characteristics ofthe first playback device. Method 400, at block 410, might comprisereceiving, with the computing system, a first version of the mediacontent, the first version of the media content having the one or morefirst presentation characteristics. Method 400 might further compriserelaying, with the computing system, the received first version of themedia content to the first playback device for presentation to the userof the first version of the media content (block 412) and presenting,with the first playback device, the received first version of the mediacontent to the user (block 414). Method 400 might return to the processat block 402 following the circular marker denoted, “A.”

With reference to the process at block 416, method 400 might comprise,based on a determination that the first playback device has beendisconnected since its most recent usage (at block 404) and based on adetermination that a second playback device has been connected,determining, with the computing system, whether the second playbackdevice and the first playback device are the same device. If so, method400 continues onto the process at block 406, following the circularmarker denoted, “B.” If not, method 400 continues onto the process atblock 418 in FIG. 4B, following the circular marker denoted, “C.”

Turning to FIG. 4B (following the circular marker denoted, “C”), method400, at block 418, might comprise determining, with the computingsystem, whether one or more characteristics of the second playbackdevice are already stored on the local data storage device. If not,method 400 continues onto the process at block 430 in FIG. 4C followingthe circular marker denoted, “D.” If so, method 400 continues onto theprocess at block 420. At block 420, method 400 might compriseretrieving, with the computing system, a determined one or more secondcharacteristics of the second playback device from the local datastorage device. At block 422, method 400 might comprise sending, withthe computing system and to the media content source over the network, asecond request for the media content, the second request comprisinginformation regarding one or more second presentation characteristicsthat are based at least in part on the determined one or more secondcharacteristics of the second playback device. Method 400 might furthercomprise receiving, with the computing system, a second version of themedia content, the second version of the media content having the one ormore second presentation characteristics (block 424), relaying, with thecomputing system, the received second version of the media content tothe second playback device for presentation to the user of the secondversion of the media content (block 426), and presenting, with thesecond playback device, the received second version of the media contentto the user (block 428). Method 400 might return to the process at block402 in FIG. 4A, following the circular marker denoted, “A.”

With reference to FIG. 4C (following the circular marker denoted, “D”),method 400, at block 430, autonomously determining, with the computingsystem, one or more third characteristics of the second playback device.Method 400 might further comprise, at block 432, storing, with thecomputing system, the determined one or more third characteristics ofthe second playback device on the local data storage device. At block434, method 400 might comprise sending, with the computing system and tothe media content source over the network, a third request for the mediacontent, the third request comprising information regarding one or morethird presentation characteristics that are based at least in part onthe determined one or more third characteristics of the second playbackdevice. Method 400 might further comprise receiving, with the computingsystem, a third version of the media content, the third version of themedia content having the one or more third presentation characteristics(block 436), relaying, with the computing system, the received thirdversion of the media content to the second playback device forpresentation to the user of the third version of the media content(block 438), and presenting, with the second playback device, thereceived third version of the media content to the user (block 440).Method 400 might return to the process at block 402 in FIG. 4A,following the circular marker denoted, “A.”

Exemplary System and Hardware Implementation

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer or systemhardware architecture, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 5provides a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a computer system500 of the service provider system hardware that can perform the methodsprovided by various other embodiments, as described herein, and/or canperform the functions of computer or hardware system (i.e., computingsystems 105 a, 105 b, and 105′, display devices 120 a-120 n′, 120 a′-120n″, 120′, 245, and 250, audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, 125 a′-125n′, 125′, 225, and 235, playback devices 115 and 115′, user devices 130a-130 n, media content sources (or servers) 140, etc.), as describedabove. It should be noted that FIG. 5 is meant only to provide ageneralized illustration of various components, of which one or more (ornone) of each may be utilized as appropriate. FIG. 5, therefore, broadlyillustrates how individual system elements may be implemented in arelatively separated or relatively more integrated manner.

The computer or hardware system 500—which might represent an embodimentof the computer or hardware system (i.e., computing systems 105 a, 105b, and 105′, display devices 120 a-120 n′, 120 a′-120 n″, 120′, 245, and250, audio playback devices 125 a-125 n, 125 a′-125 n′, 125′, 225, and235, playback devices 115 and 115′, user devices 130 a-130 n, mediacontent sources (or servers) 140, etc.), described above with respect toFIGS. 1-4—is shown comprising hardware elements that can be electricallycoupled via a bus 505 (or may otherwise be in communication, asappropriate). The hardware elements may include one or more processors510, including, without limitation, one or more general-purposeprocessors and/or one or more special-purpose processors (such asmicroprocessors, digital signal processing chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, and/or the like); one or more input devices 515, which caninclude, without limitation, a mouse, a keyboard and/or the like; andone or more output devices 520, which can include, without limitation, adisplay device, a printer, and/or the like.

The computer or hardware system 500 may further include (and/or be incommunication with) one or more storage devices 525, which can comprise,without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage, and/or caninclude, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, an opticalstorage device, solid-state storage device such as a random accessmemory (“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable and/or the like. Such storage devices maybe configured to implement any appropriate data stores, including,without limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like.

The computer or hardware system 500 might also include a communicationssubsystem 530, which can include, without limitation, a modem, a networkcard (wireless or wired), an infra-red communication device, a wirelesscommunication device and/or chipset (such as a Bluetooth™ device, an802.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, a WWAN device, cellularcommunication facilities, etc.), and/or the like. The communicationssubsystem 530 may permit data to be exchanged with a network (such asthe network described below, to name one example), with other computeror hardware systems, and/or with any other devices described herein. Inmany embodiments, the computer or hardware system 500 will furthercomprise a working memory 535, which can include a RAM or ROM device, asdescribed above.

The computer or hardware system 500 also may comprise software elements,shown as being currently located within the working memory 535,including an operating system 540, device drivers, executable libraries,and/or other code, such as one or more application programs 545, whichmay comprise computer programs provided by various embodiments(including, without limitation, hypervisors, VMs, and the like), and/ormay be designed to implement methods, and/or configure systems, providedby other embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, oneor more procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussedabove might be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be encoded and/or storedon a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as thestorage device(s) 525 described above. In some cases, the storage mediummight be incorporated within a computer system, such as the system 500.In other embodiments, the storage medium might be separate from acomputer system (i.e., a removable medium, such as a compact disc,etc.), and/or provided in an installation package, such that the storagemedium can be used to program, configure and/or adapt a general purposecomputer with the instructions/code stored thereon. These instructionsmight take the form of executable code, which is executable by thecomputer or hardware system 500 and/or might take the form of sourceand/or installable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation onthe computer or hardware system 500 (e.g., using any of a variety ofgenerally available compilers, installation programs,compression/decompression utilities, etc.) then takes the form ofexecutable code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantialvariations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. Forexample, customized hardware (such as programmable logic controllers,field-programmable gate arrays, application-specific integratedcircuits, and/or the like) might also be used, and/or particularelements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portablesoftware, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to othercomputing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.

As mentioned above, in one aspect, some embodiments may employ acomputer or hardware system (such as the computer or hardware system500) to perform methods in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention. According to a set of embodiments, some or all of theprocedures of such methods are performed by the computer or hardwaresystem 500 in response to processor 510 executing one or more sequencesof one or more instructions (which might be incorporated into theoperating system 540 and/or other code, such as an application program545) contained in the working memory 535. Such instructions may be readinto the working memory 535 from another computer readable medium, suchas one or more of the storage device(s) 525. Merely by way of example,execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the workingmemory 535 might cause the processor(s) 510 to perform one or moreprocedures of the methods described herein.

The terms “machine readable medium” and “computer readable medium,” asused herein, refer to any medium that participates in providing datathat causes a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In an embodimentimplemented using the computer or hardware system 500, various computerreadable media might be involved in providing instructions/code toprocessor(s) 510 for execution and/or might be used to store and/orcarry such instructions/code (e.g., as signals). In manyimplementations, a computer readable medium is a non-transitory,physical, and/or tangible storage medium. In some embodiments, acomputer readable medium may take many forms, including, but not limitedto, non-volatile media, volatile media, or the like. Non-volatile mediaincludes, for example, optical and/or magnetic disks, such as thestorage device(s) 525. Volatile media includes, without limitation,dynamic memory, such as the working memory 535. In some alternativeembodiments, a computer readable medium may take the form oftransmission media, which includes, without limitation, coaxial cables,copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise the bus505, as well as the various components of the communication subsystem530 (and/or the media by which the communications subsystem 530 providescommunication with other devices). In an alternative set of embodiments,transmission media can also take the form of waves (including withoutlimitation radio, acoustic and/or light waves, such as those generatedduring radio-wave and infra-red data communications).

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chipor cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any othermedium from which a computer can read instructions and/or code.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 510for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or optical disc of a remote computer.A remote computer might load the instructions into its dynamic memoryand send the instructions as signals over a transmission medium to bereceived and/or executed by the computer or hardware system 500. Thesesignals, which might be in the form of electromagnetic signals, acousticsignals, optical signals, and/or the like, are all examples of carrierwaves on which instructions can be encoded, in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

The communications subsystem 530 (and/or components thereof) generallywill receive the signals, and the bus 505 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 535, from which the processor(s) 505 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 535 may optionally be stored on a storage device 525 eitherbefore or after execution by the processor(s) 510.

As noted above, a set of embodiments comprises methods and systems forimplementing media content streaming or downloading and media contentplayback, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatusesfor implementing video quality optimization based on displaycapabilities. FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system 600that can be used in accordance with one set of embodiments. The system600 can include one or more user computers, user devices, or customerdevices 605. A user computer, user device, or customer device 605 can bea general purpose personal computer (including, merely by way ofexample, desktop computers, tablet computers, laptop computers, handheldcomputers, and the like, running any appropriate operating system,several of which are available from vendors such as Apple, MicrosoftCorp., and the like), cloud computing devices, a server(s), and/or aworkstation computer(s) running any of a variety ofcommercially-available UNIX™ or UNIX-like operating systems. A usercomputer, user device, or customer device 605 can also have any of avariety of applications, including one or more applications configuredto perform methods provided by various embodiments (as described above,for example), as well as one or more office applications, databaseclient and/or server applications, and/or web browser applications.Alternatively, a user computer, user device, or customer device 605 canbe any other electronic device, such as a thin-client computer,Internet-enabled mobile telephone, and/or personal digital assistant,capable of communicating via a network (e.g., the network(s) 610described below) and/or of displaying and navigating web pages or othertypes of electronic documents. Although the exemplary system 600 isshown with two user computers, user devices, or customer devices 605,any number of user computers, user devices, or customer devices can besupported.

Certain embodiments operate in a networked environment, which caninclude a network(s) 610. The network(s) 610 can be any type of networkfamiliar to those skilled in the art that can support datacommunications using any of a variety of commercially-available (and/orfree or proprietary) protocols, including, without limitation, TCP/IP,SNA™, IPX™, AppleTalk™, and the like. Merely by way of example, thenetwork(s) 610 (similar to network(s) 150 FIG. 1, or the like) can eachinclude a local area network (“LAN”), including, without limitation, afiber network, an Ethernet network, a Token-Ring™ network and/or thelike; a wide-area network (“WAN”); a wireless wide area network(“WWAN”); a virtual network, such as a virtual private network (“VPN”);the Internet; an intranet; an extranet; a public switched telephonenetwork (“PSTN”); an infra-red network; a wireless network, including,without limitation, a network operating under any of the IEEE 802.11suite of protocols, the Bluetooth™ protocol known in the art, and/or anyother wireless protocol; and/or any combination of these and/or othernetworks. In a particular embodiment, the network might include anaccess network of the service provider (e.g., an Internet serviceprovider (“ISP”)). In another embodiment, the network might include acore network of the service provider, and/or the Internet.

Embodiments can also include one or more server computers 615. Each ofthe server computers 615 may be configured with an operating system,including, without limitation, any of those discussed above, as well asany commercially (or freely) available server operating systems. Each ofthe servers 615 may also be running one or more applications, which canbe configured to provide services to one or more clients 605 and/orother servers 615.

Merely by way of example, one of the servers 615 might be a data server,a web server, a cloud computing device(s), or the like, as describedabove. The data server might include (or be in communication with) a webserver, which can be used, merely by way of example, to process requestsfor web pages or other electronic documents from user computers 605. Theweb server can also run a variety of server applications, including HTTPservers, FTP servers, CGI servers, database servers, Java servers, andthe like. In some embodiments of the invention, the web server may beconfigured to serve web pages that can be operated within a web browseron one or more of the user computers 605 to perform methods of theinvention.

The server computers 615, in some embodiments, might include one or moreapplication servers, which can be configured with one or moreapplications accessible by a client running on one or more of the clientcomputers 605 and/or other servers 615. Merely by way of example, theserver(s) 615 can be one or more general purpose computers capable ofexecuting programs or scripts in response to the user computers 605and/or other servers 615, including, without limitation, webapplications (which might, in some cases, be configured to performmethods provided by various embodiments). Merely by way of example, aweb application can be implemented as one or more scripts or programswritten in any suitable programming language, such as Java™, C, C#™ orC++, and/or any scripting language, such as Perl, Python, or TCL, aswell as combinations of any programming and/or scripting languages. Theapplication server(s) can also include database servers, including,without limitation, those commercially available from Oracle™,Microsoft™, Sybase™, IBM™, and the like, which can process requests fromclients (including, depending on the configuration, dedicated databaseclients, API clients, web browsers, etc.) running on a user computer,user device, or customer device 605 and/or another server 615. In someembodiments, an application server can perform one or more of theprocesses for implementing media content streaming or downloading andmedia content playback, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, andapparatuses for implementing video quality optimization based on displaycapabilities, as described in detail above. Data provided by anapplication server may be formatted as one or more web pages (comprisingHTML, JavaScript, etc., for example) and/or may be forwarded to a usercomputer 605 via a web server (as described above, for example).Similarly, a web server might receive web page requests and/or inputdata from a user computer 605 and/or forward the web page requestsand/or input data to an application server. In some cases, a web servermay be integrated with an application server.

In accordance with further embodiments, one or more servers 615 canfunction as a file server and/or can include one or more of the files(e.g., application code, data files, etc.) necessary to implementvarious disclosed methods, incorporated by an application running on auser computer 605 and/or another server 615. Alternatively, as thoseskilled in the art will appreciate, a file server can include allnecessary files, allowing such an application to be invoked remotely bya user computer, user device, or customer device 605 and/or server 615.

It should be noted that the functions described with respect to variousservers herein (e.g., application server, database server, web server,file server, etc.) can be performed by a single server and/or aplurality of specialized servers, depending on implementation-specificneeds and parameters.

In certain embodiments, the system can include one or more databases 620a-620 n (collectively, “databases 620”). The location of each of thedatabases 620 is discretionary: merely by way of example, a database 620a might reside on a storage medium local to (and/or resident in) aserver 615 a (and/or a user computer, user device, or customer device605). Alternatively, a database 620 n can be remote from any or all ofthe computers 605, 615, so long as it can be in communication (e.g., viathe network 610) with one or more of these. In a particular set ofembodiments, a database 620 can reside in a storage-area network (“SAN”)familiar to those skilled in the art. (Likewise, any necessary files forperforming the functions attributed to the computers 605, 615 can bestored locally on the respective computer and/or remotely, asappropriate.) In one set of embodiments, the database 620 can be arelational database, such as an Oracle database, that is adapted tostore, update, and retrieve data in response to SQL-formatted commands.The database might be controlled and/or maintained by a database server,as described above, for example.

According to some embodiments, system 600 might further comprise acomputing system 625 (similar to computing systems 105 a, 105 b, and105′ of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like), one or more display devices630 a-630 n (similar to display devices 120 a-120 n′, 120 a′-120 n″,120′, 245, and 250 of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, or the like), one or moreaudio playback devices 635 a-635 n (similar to audio playback devices125 a-125 n, 125 a′-125 n′, 125′, 225, and 235 of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B,or the like), interface devices 640 (similar to interface devices 260 ofFIG. 2, or the like), one or more media content sources 645 andcorresponding database(s) 650 (similar to media content sources (orservers) 140 and corresponding databases 145 of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, orthe like), and/or the like. In some embodiments, the computing systemmight comprise a media device that is communicatively coupled to aplayback device(s) (i.e., one or more of display device(s) 630 a-630 nand/or audio playback device(s) 635 a-635 n, or the like). In somecases, the media device might comprise one of a set-top box (“STB”), amedia player, a gaming console, a server computer, a desktop computer,or a laptop computer, and/or the like. The media player might compriseone of a digital versatile disc or digital video disc (“DVD”) player, aBlu-ray disc (“BD”) player, a streaming video player, a streaming musicplayer, or a streaming game player, and/or the like, while the playbackdevice might comprise at least one of one or more monitors, one or moretelevision sets, or one or more speakers, and/or the like.Alternatively, the computing system and the playback device(s) might beintegrated within a single device, the single device comprising one of atablet computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, a mobile phone, apersonal digital assistant, a portable gaming device, a smart watch, avirtual reality (“VR”) device, an augmented reality (“AR”) device, or aportable music player, and/or the like.

In operation, the computing system 625 (or server 615 a or 615 b) mightreceive a first user input from a user (in some cases, either directlyvia interactions with the computing system 625 or indirectly via userdevice(s) 605 a or 605 b and via network(s) 610, or the like) indicatinga user request for a first media content. The computing system 625 (orserver 615 a or 615 b) might autonomously determine one or more firstcharacteristics of a plurality of characteristics of a first playbackdevice (i.e., at least one of the one or more display devices 630 a-630n or the one or more audio playback devices 635 a-635 n, or the like).The computing system 625 (or server 615 a or 615 b) might subsequentlysend, to the media content source(s) 645 over network 610, a firstrequest for the first media content, the first request comprisinginformation regarding one or more first presentation characteristicsthat are based at least in part on the determined one or more firstcharacteristics of the first playback device. The computing system 625(or server 615 a or 615 b) might receive a first version of the firstmedia content, the first version of the first media content having theone or more first presentation characteristics, and might relay thereceived first version of the first media content to the first playbackdevice for presentation to the user of the first version of the firstmedia content.

According to some embodiments, the one or more first characteristicsmight comprise at least one of video resolution, dynamic range, framerate, or color gamut, and/or the like. In some cases, the videoresolution might comprise one of 8K ultra-high-definition (“UHD”), 4KUHD, 1080p full high-definition (“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720p HD, 576penhanced-definition (“ED”), 480p ED, 576i standard-definition (“SD”), or480i SD, and/or the like. The dynamic range might comprise one ofhigh-dynamic-range (“HDR”), or standard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), and/orthe like. The frame rate might comprise at least one of standard framerate (“SFR”) or high frame rate (“HFR”), and/or the like. The colorgamut might comprise one of standard color gamut (“SCG”) or wide colorgamut (“WCG”), and/or the like.

These and other functions of the system 600 (and its components) aredescribed in greater detail above with respect to FIGS. 1-4.

While certain features and aspects have been described with respect toexemplary embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize thatnumerous modifications are possible. For example, the methods andprocesses described herein may be implemented using hardware components,software components, and/or any combination thereof. Further, whilevarious methods and processes described herein may be described withrespect to particular structural and/or functional components for easeof description, methods provided by various embodiments are not limitedto any particular structural and/or functional architecture but insteadcan be implemented on any suitable hardware, firmware and/or softwareconfiguration. Similarly, while certain functionality is ascribed tocertain system components, unless the context dictates otherwise, thisfunctionality can be distributed among various other system componentsin accordance with the several embodiments.

Moreover, while the procedures of the methods and processes describedherein are described in a particular order for ease of description,unless the context dictates otherwise, various procedures may bereordered, added, and/or omitted in accordance with various embodiments.Moreover, the procedures described with respect to one method or processmay be incorporated within other described methods or processes;likewise, system components described according to a particularstructural architecture and/or with respect to one system may beorganized in alternative structural architectures and/or incorporatedwithin other described systems. Hence, while various embodiments aredescribed with—or without—certain features for ease of description andto illustrate exemplary aspects of those embodiments, the variouscomponents and/or features described herein with respect to a particularembodiment can be substituted, added and/or subtracted from among otherdescribed embodiments, unless the context dictates otherwise.Consequently, although several exemplary embodiments are describedabove, it will be appreciated that the invention is intended to coverall modifications and equivalents within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: detecting, with a computingsystem, that a first playback device has been disconnected prior topresentation of an entirety of a first media content and detecting asecond playback device that is different from the first playback devicehas been connected; and responsive to detecting that the first playbackdevice has been disconnected prior to presentation of the entirety ofthe first media content and and responsive to detecting that the secondplayback device that is different from the first playback device hasbeen connected, autonomously determining, with the computing system, oneor more second playback device characteristics of a plurality ofcharacteristics of the second playback device and relaying, with thecomputing system, a second version of the first media content having oneor more second playback device presentation characteristics associatedwith the second playback device for presentation.
 2. The method of claim1, further comprising: receiving, with a computing system, a first userinput from a user indicating a user request for the first media content;autonomously determining, with the computing system, one or more firstplayback device characteristics of a plurality of characteristics of thefirst playback device; sending, with the computing system and to a mediacontent source over a network, a first request for the first mediacontent, the first request comprising information regarding one or morefirst playback device presentation characteristics that are based atleast in part on the determined one or more first playback devicecharacteristics of the first playback device; receiving, with thecomputing system, a first version of the first media content, the firstversion of the first media content having the one or more first playbackdevice presentation characteristics; and relaying, with the computingsystem, the received first version of the first media content to thefirst playback device for presentation to the user of the first versionof the first media content.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thecomputing system comprises a media device that is communicativelycoupled to at least one of the first playback device or the secondplayback device.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the media devicecomprises one of a set-top box (“STB”), a media player, a gamingconsole, a server computer, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer,wherein the media player comprises one of a digital versatile disc ordigital video disc (“DVD”) player, a Blu-ray disc (“BD”) player, astreaming video player, a streaming music player, or a streaming gameplayer, wherein the first playback device comprises at least one of oneor more monitors, one or more television sets, or one or more speakers.5. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more first playback devicecharacteristics or the one or more second playback devicecharacteristics comprise at least one of video resolution, dynamicrange, frame rate, or color gamut.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein thevideo resolution comprises one of 8K ultra-high-definition (“UHD”), 4KUHD, 1080p full high-definition (“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720p HD, 576penhanced-definition (“ED”), 480p ED, 576i standard-definition (“SD”), or480i SD, wherein the dynamic range comprises one of high-dynamic-range(“HDR”), or standard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), wherein the frame ratecomprises at least one of standard frame rate (“SFR”) or high frame rate(“HFR”), and wherein the color gamut comprises one of standard colorgamut (“SCG”) or wide color gamut (“WCG”).
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising: autonomously determining, with the computing system,one or more additional first playback device characteristics of theplurality of characteristics of the first playback device, the one ormore additional first playback device characteristics comprising atleast one of device manufacturer, model number, or specific firmwarerevision information, wherein the information regarding the one or morefirst playback device presentation characteristics comprised in thefirst request is based at least in part on a combination of thedetermined one or more first playback device characteristics of thefirst playback device and the determined one or more additional firstplayback device characteristics of the first playback device.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: storing, with the computingsystem, the determined one or more second playback devicecharacteristics of the second playback device on a local data storagedevice; receiving, with the computing system, a second user input fromthe user indicating a user request for a second media content;autonomously determining, with the computing system, whether the secondplayback device has been disconnected since its most recent usage; basedon a determination that the second playback device has been disconnectedsince its most recent usage and based on a determination that a thirdplayback device has been connected, determining, with the computingsystem, whether the third playback device and the second playback deviceare the same device; and based on a determination that the thirdplayback device and the second playback device are the same device:retrieving, with the computing system, the determined one or more secondplayback device characteristics of the second playback device from thelocal data storage device; sending, with the computing system and to themedia content source over the network, a second request for the secondmedia content, the second request comprising information regarding oneor more second playback device presentation characteristics that arebased at least in part on the determined one or more second playbackdevice characteristics of the second playback device; receiving, withthe computing system, a second version of the second media content, thesecond version of the second media content having the one or more secondplayback device presentation characteristics; and relaying, with thecomputing system, the received second version of the second mediacontent to the second playback device for presentation to the user ofthe second version of the second media content.
 9. The method of claim8, further comprising: based on a determination that the third playbackdevice and the second playback device are different devices,determining, with the computing system, whether one or more thirdplayback device characteristics of the third playback device are alreadystored on the local data storage device; and based on a determinationthat one or more third playback device characteristics of the thirdplayback device are already stored on the local data storage device:retrieving, with the computing system, the determined one or more thirdplayback device characteristics of the third playback device from thelocal data storage device; sending, with the computing system and to themedia content source over the network, a third request for the secondmedia content, the third request comprising information regarding one ormore third playback device presentation characteristics that are basedat least in part on the determined one or more third playback devicecharacteristics of the third playback device; receiving, with thecomputing system, a third version of the second media content, the thirdversion of the second media content having the one or more thirdplayback device presentation characteristics; and relaying, with thecomputing system, the received third version of the second media contentto the third playback device for presentation to the user of the thirdversion of the second media content.
 10. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising: based on a determination that characteristics of the thirdplayback device are not already stored on the local data storage device:autonomously determining, with the computing system, the one or morethird playback device characteristics of the third playback device;sending, with the computing system and to the media content source overthe network, a fourth request for the second media content, the fourthrequest comprising information regarding one or more third playbackdevice presentation characteristics that are based at least in part onthe determined one or more third playback device characteristics of thethird playback device; receiving, with the computing system, a fourthversion of the second media content, the fourth version of the secondmedia content having the one or more third playback device presentationcharacteristics; and relaying, with the computing system, the receivedfourth version of the second media content to the third playback devicefor presentation to the user of the fourth version of the second mediacontent.
 11. The method of claim 2, wherein autonomously determining theone or more first playback device characteristics of the first playbackdevice comprises autonomously determining, with the computing system,the one or more first playback device characteristics of the pluralityof characteristics of the first playback device from the first playbackdevice via an interface device between the computing system and thefirst playback device.
 12. An apparatus, comprising: at least oneprocessor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium communicativelycoupled to the at least one processor, the non-transitory computerreadable medium having stored thereon computer software comprising a setof instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor,causes the apparatus to: detect that a first playback device has beendisconnected prior to presentation of an entirety of a first mediacontent and detect a second playback device that is different from thefirst playback device has been connected; and responsive to detectingthat the first playback device has been disconnected prior topresentation of the entirety of the first media content and responsiveto detecting that the second playback device that is different from thefirst playback device has been connected, autonomously determine one ormore second playback device characteristics of a plurality ofcharacteristics of the second playback device and relay a second versionof the first media content having one or more second playback devicepresentation characteristics associated with the second playback devicefor presentation.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the set ofinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, furthercauses the apparatus to: receive a first user input from a userindicating a user request for the first media content; autonomouslydetermine one or more first playback device characteristics of aplurality of characteristics of the first playback device; send, to amedia content source over a network, a first request for the first mediacontent, the first request comprising information regarding one or morefirst playback device presentation characteristics that are based atleast in part on the determined one or more first playback devicecharacteristics of the first playback device; receive a first version ofthe first media content, the first version of the first media contenthaving the one or more first playback device presentationcharacteristics; and relay the received first version of the first mediacontent to the first playback device for presentation to the user of thefirst version of the first media content.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein the apparatus comprises a media device that is communicativelycoupled to at least one of the first playback device or the secondplayback device.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the media devicecomprises one of a set-top box (“STB”), a media player, a gamingconsole, a server computer, a desktop computer, or a laptop computer,wherein the media player comprises one of a digital versatile disc ordigital video disc (“DVD”) player, a Blu-ray disc (“BD”) player, astreaming video player, a streaming music player, or a streaming gameplayer, wherein the first playback device comprises at least one of oneor more monitors, one or more television sets, or one or more speakers.16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more first playbackdevice characteristics or the one or more second playback devicecharacteristics comprise at least one of video resolution, dynamicrange, frame rate, or color gamut.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein the video resolution comprises one of 8K ultra-high-definition(“UHD”), 4K UHD, 1080p full high-definition (“HD”), 1080i full HDi, 720pHD, 576p enhanced-definition (“ED”), 480p ED, 576i standard-definition(“SD”), or 480i SD, wherein the dynamic range comprises one ofhigh-dynamic-range (“HDR”), or standard-dynamic-range (“SDR”), whereinthe frame rate comprises at least one of standard frame rate (“SFR”) orhigh frame rate (“HFR”), and wherein the color gamut comprises one ofstandard color gamut (“SCG”) or wide color gamut (“WCG”).
 18. Theapparatus of claim 13, wherein the set of instructions, when executed bythe at least one processor, further causes the apparatus to:autonomously determine one or more additional first playbackcharacteristics of the plurality of characteristics of the firstplayback device, the one or more additional first playbackcharacteristics comprising at least one of device manufacturer, modelnumber, or specific firmware revision information, wherein theinformation regarding the one or more first playback presentationcharacteristics comprised in the first request is based at least in parton a combination of the determined one or more first characteristics ofthe first playback device and the determined one or more additionalfirst playback characteristics of the first playback device.
 19. Asystem, comprising: a first playback device; a computing system,comprising: at least one first processor; and a first non-transitorycomputer readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least onefirst processor, the first non-transitory computer readable mediumhaving stored thereon computer software comprising a first set ofinstructions that, when executed by the at least one first processor,causes the computing system to: detect that the first playback devicehas been disconnected prior to presentation of an entirety of a firstmedia content and detect a second playback device that is different fromthe first playback device has been connected; and responsive todetecting that the first playback device has been disconnected prior topresentation of the entirety of the first media content and responsiveto detecting that the second playback device that is different from thefirst playback device has been connected, autonomously determine one ormore second playback device characteristics of a plurality ofcharacteristics of the second playback device and relay a second versionof the first media content having one or more second playback devicepresentation characteristics associated with the second playback devicefor presentation; the second playback device, comprising: at least onesecond processor; and a second non-transitory computer readable mediumcommunicatively coupled to the at least one second processor, the secondnon-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computersoftware comprising a second set of instructions that, when executed bythe at least one second processor, causes the first playback device to:receive the second version of the first media content relayed from thecomputing system; and present the second version of the first mediacontent.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first set ofinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, furthercauses the computing system to: receive a first user input from a userindicating a user request for the first media content; autonomouslydetermine one or more first playback device characteristics of aplurality of characteristics of the first playback device; send, to amedia content source over a network, a first request for the first mediacontent, the first request comprising information regarding one or morefirst playback device presentation characteristics that are based atleast in part on the determined one or more first playback devicecharacteristics of the first playback device; receive a first version ofthe first media content, the first version of the first media contenthaving the one or more first presentation characteristics; and relay thereceived first version of the first media content to the first playbackdevice for presentation to the user of the first version of the firstmedia content.